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John A. Miller, born August John Mueller (1872 – June 24, 1941), was an American roller coaster designer and builder, inventor, and businessman. Miller patented over 100 key roller coaster components, and is widely considered the "father of the modern high-speed roller coaster." During his lifetime, he participated in the design of approximately 150 coasters and was a key business partner and mentor to other well-known roller coaster designers, including Harry C. Baker and John C. Allen.

Biography

Early life

Miller was born in Homewood, Illinois, in 1872 and worked as a coaster builder from a very early age. At the age of 19, he started working with La Marcus Thompson and went on to serve as Thompson's chief engineer. By 1911, he was working as a consultant to the Philadelphia Toboggan Company He also worked with noted designers Frederick Ingersoll and Fred and Josiah Pearce.

In 1910, Miller designed a device that prevented cars from rolling backward down the lift hill in the event of pull chain breakage. It attached to the track and clicked onto the rungs of the chain. Known as the safety chain dog or safety ratchet, it evolved into the device on the underside of cars that makes the distinctive clinkety-clank sound commonly heard on the lift hills of wooden coasters.

Miller's most important contribution to roller coaster technology, though, was the underfriction wheel. In 1919, he patented the "Miller Under Friction Wheel," also called the "upstop wheel", which consisted of a wheel that ran under the track to keep the coaster cars from flying off. This allowed designers to incorporate very steep drops, sharp horizontal and vertical curves, and high speeds. These are found on nearly every modern roller coaster in operation.

Miller & Baker

Besides patenting ingenious inventions for coasters—including several types of brakes and car bar locks—Miller built his share of unusual "scream machines". In 1920 Miller went into business with Harry C. Baker as "Miller & Baker, Inc." and over the next three years they built popular coasters all over North America. Characteristics of their roller coasters are camelback hills (multiple straight or slightly angled drops that went all the way to the ground) and large, flat turns.

Miller & Baker built other types of amusement rides and structures as well. In addition to coasters, the firm constructed mill chutes and domed roof buildings for carousels and dance pavilions.

The John Miller Company

After 1923, Miller continued to design and build coasters for his own company, The John Miller Company. Dip-Lo-Docus (c. 1923), billed as "The Jazz Ride", featured revolving three-seater cars, whereas Flying Turns (1929) consisted of cars with swiveling rubber wheels tearing through a half-cylindrical chute like a toboggan. The legendary Cyclone (1928–1958) at Puritas Springs near Cleveland, Ohio, was honored with a place on the Smithsonian Institution's list of Great Lost Roller Coasters. It was hidden so much by foliage that only the boarding platform was visible to riders before they began to race through the ravine. This 1928 ride was considered one of the golden-age classics of the period.

Later life and death

Although many of his most famous roller coasters were built during the 1920s, Miller never stopped building roller coasters. He continued to travel to supervise site installations and consult on roller coaster design until his death. He died on June 24, 1941, while working on a roller coaster project at Playland Park in Houston, Texas, at the age of 69.

Roller coasters

During his lifetime, Miller designed or contributed to the design of approximately 150 roller coasters.

1. Dismantled in 2000
2. Dismantled in 1950
3. Dismantled in 2011; remnants sent to the National Roller Coaster Museum & Archives (NRCMA) in Arlington, Texas.
4. The official clam is 1927, but RCDB research supports 1930
5. Originally named Pippin, it was redesigned in 1968 by Andy Vettel
6. Dismantled on October 17, 2016
7. Partially destroyed in a fire in 1923 and rebuilt
8. Referred to as White Roller Coaster by locals
9. Was originally located at East End Park and later Libertyland before being relocated to Bay Beach Amusement Park
10. Originally named "The Giant Coaster" when it was located at Paragon Park in Hull, MA (1917–1985), it was redesigned in 1932 by Herbert Schmeck after being partially destroyed in a fire
11. Removed in 2007
12. Formerly known as Jack Rabbit (1919–1975)
13. Removed in 1975
14. Original in 1914 was moved/rebuilt in 1924 and considered a new ride
15. Remained standing until 1966, until it was destroyed in a storm that blew it over into the lake.
16. Removed in 1966
17. Badly damaged in a storm in 1950, it was redesigned/rebuilt by PTC's Herbert Schmeck and reopened in 1952
18. SBNO from 1924 to 1933, when it was torn down
19. Relocated from Luna Park, Houston (1924-1934)

Patents

References

1. ^ Rutherford, Scott (2000). The American roller coaster. Osceola, WI: MBI Pub. Co. pp. 33, 35–37. ISBN 0760306893. OL 8010804M.
2. ^ Cartmell, Robert (1987). The Incredible Scream Machine: A History of the Roller Coaster. Fairview Park, OH: Amusement Park Books, Inc. pp. 117–136. ISBN 0879723416.
3. ^ Marden, Duane. "John A. Miller". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
4. Urbanowicz, Steven J. (1987). The Roller Coaster Lover's Companion. New York: Citadell Press. ISBN 0806523093.
5. ^ "John A. Miller". MIT Inventor of the Week Archive. Archived from the original on February 14, 2008. Retrieved March 7, 2008.
6. US patent 1319888, John Miller, "Pleasure railway structure", issued 1919-10-28 
7. Miller and Baker Inc. 1923 Catalogue (reprint). Natrona Heights, PA: Amusement Park Journal. 1923.
8. Marden, Duane. "Greyhound  (Lakewood Fairgrounds)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
9. Marden, Duane. "Jack Rabbit  (Riverview Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
10. Kilby, Jack; Noyce, Robert; Roebling, John A. (2008). Inventors and Inventions. Vol. 4. New York: Marshall Cavendish. p. 1084. ISBN 978-0761477679.
11. Marden, Duane. "Cyclone  (Puritas Springs)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
12. Marden, Duane. "Greyhound  (Celoron Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
13. Marden, Duane. "Flying Turns  (Euclid Beach Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
14. Marden, Duane. "Ravine Flyer  (Waldameer Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
15. Marden, Duane. "Thunderbolt  (Revere Beach)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
16. Marden, Duane. "Thunderbolt  (Coney Island)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
17. Marden, Duane. "Beach Coaster  (Ocean View Pavilion Amusement Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
18. Marden, Duane. "Screechin' Eagle  (LeSourdsville Lake Amusement Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
19. Marden, Duane. "Thunderbolt  (Moxahala Amusement Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
20. Marden, Duane. "Legend  (Arnold's Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
21. Marden, Duane. "Racer  (Kennywood)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
22. Marden, Duane. "Jack Rabbit  (Kennywood)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
23. Marden, Duane. "Thunderbolt  (Kennywood)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
24. Marden, Duane. "Big Dipper  (Blackpool Pleasure Beach)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
25. Marden, Duane. "Big Dipper  (Geauga Lake & Wildwater Kingdom)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
26. Marden, Duane. "Classic Coaster  (Washington State Fair)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
27. Marden, Duane. "Jack Rabbit  (Seabreeze)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
28. Marden, Duane. "Roller Coaster  (Lagoon Amusement Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
29. Marden, Duane. "Zippin Pippin  (Bay Beach Amusement Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
30. Marden, Duane. "The Wild One  (Six Flags America)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
31. Marden, Duane. "Giant Coaster  (Paragon Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
32. Marden, Duane. "Jack Rabbit  (Clementon Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
33. Marden, Duane. "Dips  (Buckroe Beach Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
34. Marden, Duane. "Screem Machine  (Splash Zone Water Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
35. Marden, Duane. "The Big Beast  (Edgewater Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
36. Marden, Duane. "Speed Hound  (Don Hanson's Amusement Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
37. Marden, Duane. "Roller Coaster  (Riverview Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
38. Marden, Duane. "Alps  (Willow Grove Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
39. Marden, Duane. "Comet  (Silver Beach Amusement Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
40. Marden, Duane. "Thriller  (Riverside Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
41. Marden, Duane. "Thriller  (Riverside Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
42. Marden, Duane. "Derby Racer  (Euclid Beach Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
43. Marden, Duane. "Flying Dragon  (Walled Lake Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
44. Marden, Duane. "Jack Rabbit  (Natatorium Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
45. Marden, Duane. "Big Dipper  (Riverview Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
46. Marden, Duane. "Fireball  (Riverview Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
47. Marden, Duane. "Flying Turns  (Riverview Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
48. Marden, Duane. "Humming Bird  (Riverview Beach Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
49. Marden, Duane. "Pippin  (Riverview Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
50. Marden, Duane. "Sea Serpent  (Pacific Ocean Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
51. Marden, Duane. "Dips  (Buckeye Lake)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
52. "Buckeye Lake Amusement Park". Buckeye Lake Historical Society. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
53. Marden, Duane. "Giant  (Winnipeg Beach)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
54. Marden, Duane. "Skyrocket  (Fairyland Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
55. Marden, Duane. "Aero Dips  (Euclid Beach Park])". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
56. Marden, Duane. "Jet Star  (Olympic Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
57. Marden, Duane. "Deep Dip Coaster  (Fair Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
58. Marden, Duane. "Gee Wiz  (Riverview Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
59. Marden, Duane. "Crystal Flyer  (Crystal Beach Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
60. Marden, Duane. "Big Dipper  (Jefferson Beach)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
61. Marden, Duane. "Comet  (Chain of Rocks Amusement Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 26, 2016.
62. Marden, Duane. "Comet  (Pacific City)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
63. Marden, Duane. "Flash  (Riverside Park)". Roller Coaster DataBase. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
64. Inc, Nielsen Business Media (March 7, 1942). Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. {{cite book}}: |last= has generic name (help)
65. "Roller Coaster - Playland Park (Houston, Texas, USA)". rcdb.com. Retrieved November 19, 2015.
66. "Playland Park (Houston, Texas, USA)". rcdb.com. Retrieved November 19, 2015.

External links

• John A. Miller site

• Amusement ride manufacturers
• Roller coaster designers
• People from Homewood, Illinois
• 1872 births
• 1941 deaths